Belgium’s apparel imports declined by 4.9% year-on-year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, amounting to $1.96 billion, according to trade data reported by Fibre2Fashion. This marks a continued slowdown in consumer demand amid ongoing macroeconomic challenges across Europe.
Germany maintained its position as the leading supplier of apparel to Belgium, emphasizing the strength of intra-European trade. Notably, among non-European countries, only China and Bangladesh appeared in Belgium’s list of top apparel import partners.
While apparel imports dropped, Belgium’s home textile imports showed a slight increase during the same period, led mainly by Chinese suppliers. However, fabric imports also recorded a decline, reflecting reduced demand across broader textile categories.
The overall contraction in Belgium’s apparel imports aligns with broader trends in Europe, where inflation remains modest but consumer confidence is fragile. Exporters to the EU market, particularly from Asia, are watching these trends closely as they plan their sourcing and marketing strategies.
